In January this film was edited down another 20 minutes to make it a thrift 85 minutes of sweet romantic-comedy fantasy. Young, beautiful Isabella (Cruz) is crushed by her macho husband's (Benicio) cheating, so she flees her native Bahia, Brazil to the comfort of her best friend, the transvestite Monica (Perrineau). By praying and giving homage to the Brazilian goddess Yemanja - asking for her love for her husband to disappear, she magically is rid of her feelings for him. Isabella's culinary talents charm a local TV producer (Feuerstein) into giving her a cooking show of her own - which is a hit. He also falls in love with her. All seems well, until her husband follows her to San Francisco to win her back. His beautiful singing voice lands him a job on her show and causes her ratings to sky rocket. Should she go back with her husband, who loves her, but is too macho to let her "be on top," or the producer who seems to love her any way he can get her - or does he? Although this chick flick film drags in the third act, and has one plot resolution that rings false, it provides some real laughs and romantic moments. A nice first date film.
Review of Woman on Top
